Faithfulness Means Waiting and Staying Put
In my final year of seminary, I served as a pastoral intern at a wonderful nonprofit organization called Greensboro Urban Ministry. Every Monday and Wednesday I would drive from Durham to Greensboro to serve as a student chaplain for homeless individuals and low-income families. My job description was brief andContinue Reading
Thank God For Distractions In Prayer
In my life, retreats have been important to break away from the busyness and noise of my suburban world. But taking a full weekend away is difficult to schedule, which means that I have to find places of retreat near my house. Having learned the need for solitude in myContinue Reading
On Distracted Dads, Waiting, and Becoming an Attentive Father
With coffee at my side and laptop open, I sat in my armchair easing into a relaxing morning, not noticing how long Netflix Kids had been playing in the background. But after a while, my 2-year old son had grown tired of whatever cartoon was playing and asked me toContinue Reading
Receiving Grace: A Father’s First Calling
What is the first calling in a father’s life? What is the most difficult calling in a father’s life? I don’t presume a definitive, authoritative answer here, so instead I’ll offer a personal response based on my experience. My answer is the same for both questions- receiving grace. Before IContinue Reading
Fatherhood: Always We Begin Again
The word ‘father’ has always carried a double meaning for me. At church, many people call me Father Jack. At home, my children call me Daddy. I was ordained a priest only two years before our first child was born, so learning how to be a priest and a fatherContinue Reading